Identification and Evaluation of Antiepileptic Activity of C21 Steroidal Glycosides from the Roots of Cynanchum wilfordii.

Nine new C21 steroidal glycosides, named cynawilfosides A-I (1-9), along with 12 known compounds were isolated from the roots of Cynanchum wilfordii. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods. The five major components, cynawilfoside A (1), cynauricoside A (11), wilfoside C1N (16), wilfoside K1N (17), and cyanoauriculoside G (18), exhibited significant protection activity in a maximal electroshock (MES)-induced mouse seizure model with ED50 values of 48.5, 95.3, 124.1, 72.3, and 88.1 mg/kg, respectively.